Government cracks down on visa rort

Transcript

BARRIE CASSIDY, PRESENTER: Coming up next, our program guest, the Immigration Minister, Brendan O'Connor, but first this background on the 457 visas debate.

(Song plays throughout: 'Stuck in the Middle With You - Bachmann)

DEBORAH RICE, ABC NEWS PRESENTER: The policy battle has moved to foreign workers

LEIGH SALES, 7.30 PRESENTER: Both major parties are accusing each other of dog whistling and racism.

TONY ABBOTT, OPPOSITION LEADER (to press): The Government is tolerating people coming to this country and going on welfare and they're demonising people coming to this country and working from day one.

JULIA GILLARD, PRIME MINISTER (on ABC News Breakfast): Let's remember this is the man who has profited from fear, who has been out there warning people of a 'peaceful invasion'.

TONY ABBOTT (to press): First of all we had the false class war, then we had the false gender war, now we've got the false birthplace war.

JULIA GILLARD (on Sky News): If a further crackdown is necessary, then we make it.

TONY ABBOTT (to press): She was asked to identify some of these so-called rorts that she talks about. She wasn't able to produce a single example.

BRENDAN O'CONNOR, IMMIGRATION MINISTER (on 7.30): There's been over 100 sanctions. There's been a few cancellations.

SCOTT MORRISON, OPPOSITION IMMIGRATION SPOKESMAN (on Lateline): I'm unclear as to what has changed other than the fact that the Prime Minister needs the union backing in an election year.

JULIA GILLARD (to press): I want to see Australian workers put first. full stop. That's it.

JOE HOCKEY, SHADOW TREASURER (to press): Aren't there people in her office on 457 visas?